‘No-chase’ bike theft suspect dies in crash

A man suspected of being a motorbike thief who police refused to chase because he wasn’t wearing a crash helmet has been killed riding a stolen machine. Bobby Carl Hodgkins, 24, died after a Kawasaki 450 he was riding collided with a Toyota van. He was not wearing a helmet.

Officers saw three crooks fleeing from the scene on bikes worth £20,000 but they had to watch them escape due to fears over the thieves’ safety.

Police defended their actions, saying officers followed the correct protocol.

Now Mr Hodgkins has died after a Kawasaki 450 he was riding collided with a Toyota van. He was not wearing a helmet.

The motorbike had been stolen during a burglary in Audenshaw on August 26.

Mr Hodgkins suffered serious head injuries in the accident on Greenbrow Road, Wythenshawe, at 2.40pm on Saturday and died a short time later.

He had been due to answer bail for the Altrincham theft on September 10. He had been arrested on August 13.

Mr Hodgkins, from Wythenshawe, was banned for dangerous driving in 2005 and had to re-take his test to get his licence back, but had not done so.

Witnesses to the accident are asked to contact police on 0161 856 6173. During the Altrincham raid, officers spotted the criminals fleeing on a Yamaha R1, a Honda 1000 Fireblade and a Honda CBR 600.

They contacted their duty inspector for guidance but after learning none of the suspects was wearing helmets and safety equipment, he ordered them not to pursue the thieves.

Last night, Motorbike Store owner Tony Crawford, who has still not had his bikes returned, said: "I am deeply saddened that somebody has died, especially somebody so young.

"But this does show that police should stop individuals riding without helmets because they can end up killing themselves and others.

"If they know the police will pursue them, they will not do it."

Sale West MP Graham Brady said at the time of the original theft he was ‘astonished’ that the welfare of criminals in the act of breaking the law was put before a chance to apprehend them.

Chris Burrows, chairman of the Greater Manchester branch of the Police Federation, said the officers had acted in accordance with force policy and would have been severely criticised if they had acted any differently.